After 10 years of planning and project work, the Kex Gill bypass is finally due to open in 2026. 

Motorists and businesses, however, will remain sceptical until it happens: the scheme has been beset by delays and rising costs and was originally due to finish in March 2025.

The project, which is the most expensive undertaken by North Yorkshire Council, aims to put a stop to frequent closures of the landslip-prone route between Harrogate and Skipton by realigning three miles of the A59.

Last year began with another landslip on January 1, which led to the closure of the old road until January 23 — another blow to local businesses which depend on passing trade.

Then came the bombshell, exclusively revealed by the Stray Ferret in May, that the overall cost had soared from £68.8 million to £82.5 million, due to compensation claims and extra contingency funds.

Councillor Keane Duncan, the council’s Conservative executive member for highways at the time, blamed “bad luck on our part and bad management on the part of central government” due to the late award of funding from the Department for Transport. 

The DfT, which is the main funder for the scheme, contributed £56.1 million on a fixed sum basis, meaning any cost increases have to be paid for by the council.

A DfT spokesperson said Cllr Duncan’s claims were “untrue” and that it was the responsibility of the council to deliver and manage this scheme.

Cllr Malcolm Taylor, who succeeded Cllr Duncan, said in November that the largest compensation claim, which was for £3.1 million by Irish contractors John Sisk & Son for the late start to the project, had been resolved in favour of the council.

Another problem was that 16,000 lorry loads of soil were recommended for removal offsite because it was deemed to be of too poor quality for use in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Kex Gill is located in Nidderdale National Landscape.

Asphalt laid

On a brighter note, Cllr Taylor said in July that good weather in May and June had aided progress and the “opening date has now been brought forward two weeks to early June 2026” and the first asphalt was laid in summer by sub-contractors Tarmac.

Some traffic disruption is expected when the new road ties-in with the current A59 in the last days of the project. Further work decommissioning the old road is expected to last well into 2027, but this should not affect motorists.

Nearby residents were given an on-site briefing in August by the Sisk programme director but there have been few updates since summer.

Everyone involved will be hoping that by the middle of the year, traffic is flowing on the new road.